Word game



July 2, 1963 G. J. BREDEHORN WORD GAME Filed Aug. 6, 1959 I RE TINE \PAINTER HALO BIRTH OF veuus" ARTIST BOTTICELLI INVENTOR. GEORGE 'J. BREDEHO/ZN FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,096,(992 WORD GANIE George J. Bredehorn, 713 Francis Drive, Wantagh, NY. Filed Aug. 6, 195%, Ser. No. 831,973 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-135) This invention relates to games and, more particularly, to a word game.

While all types of word games have been extremely popular, certain types do not lend themselves for adequate or satisfactory playing by more than one person, and especially not by a larger number of players. Some of the word games have also included a large number of small parts that often become lost, and which must be played in a suitable location or on a proper playing surface.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a word game that may be played by any number of players, including a single person, which is extremely simple in construction, has no parts which can be readily lost, and which will further overcome the aforementioned difiiculties ordinarily associated with other types of word games.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a word game in which it is possible to choose the subject matter and degree of ditiiculty of the words to be solved so as to be readily adaptable for players of all age groups and abilities.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a word game having scoring means for allowing for competitive play, so as to test the ability and skill of all of the players participating in the game.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a word game of the type described which is basically a test of the skill and ingenuity of the players, but which is also provided with chance selecting apparatus for determining the sequence of play of certain parts of the game so as to afford each player an equal chance at obtaining a high score.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a word game of the above type having provisions for allowing Iany player, in turn, to guess the answer and check upon the results of such guess without revealing the answer to any of the other players.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a word game of the type described that can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost, and which may be used repeatedly without damage or loss of usefulness of the game.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a word game made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional View taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a. fragmentary plan view of a word game sheet forming a part of the present invention; and FIGUM 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a slide closure forming another part of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, a word game 19 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a main top panel or board '12 and a base panel 14 secured together in spaced apart parallel relationship by means of a frame 16. The space between the base panel 14 and top panel 12 defines a compartment 18 which slidably receives one or more word game sheets 29 therewithin, any one of such sheets being selected for the playing of each game.

As is more clearly shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing each word game sheet 20 has one column of word definitions 22 and associated indicia 24 which indicates the number of letters plus one in the word answer identified by the definition 22. In actual play, the word definition 22 and associated indicia 24 are visible through window openings 25 and 25a, respectively, in the top panel '12. The main top panel 12 is also provided with a laterally aligned row of other letter window openings 28, each of which is identified by consecutively numbered indicia 3t!- corresponding to the number of letters in the word identified by the word definition 22. The letters 26 of the word identified by the word definitions 22 are arnanged in laterally aligned relationship with respect to the word definition 22 and the word answer 32 which is visible through the answer window opening 34 on the opposite end of the top panel 12 from the word definition window opening 25.

A closure slide 36 having a masking tab 37 is provided with laterally spaced apart sides 38 that slid'ably receive the window opening defining portions of each of the word letter window openings 28 in the top panel 12. Handles or knobs 44 which may be integral with each slide 36 thus make it possible to selectively move each of the slides 36 individually between a normally closed position with respect to each window opening 28, masking the word letters 26 therebeneath, and an openposi-tion revealing such letters. A larger closure slide 42 also having sides 41 slidably receiving the opening defining portions of the answer opening 34 is provided with a masking tab 43 and handled-4 for selectively moving such closure between a normally closed and an open position with respect to the answer window opening 34 to mask the word answer 32 therebeneath.

in actual play, the participants may choose a category 45, of a desired degree of difiiculty, and the game sheet 26 is inserted into the compartment 18 directly beneath the top panel 12. With all of the closure slides 36, 42 in a closed position, the associated masking tabs. 37, 43 thereof completely hide a word letter 26 and the answer 32 imprinted upon the sheet 20. Only the word definition 22 remains visible through the associated Window opening 25. The indicia 24 as seen in 25a adjacent the Word definition 22 indicates the number of letters plus one in the answer, whereby the slide having that number, as indicated by the indicia 30 on the top panel '12, is opened, revealing a blank space on the game sheet 20. As shown in the drawing, the word demure has six letters, and accordingly the number shown in 25a is 7, i.e., six plus one.

The first player may then attempt to identify the word from its definition 22. If such word cannot be identified by the first player, such player may spin a pointer 56 rotatably carried upon a pin 58 of the top panel 12, with respect to a spinner unit 46 that further includes a circle 48 which is divided by means of diametrically extending lines 50 into a plurality of sections 51 having two diiferent "numbers, said numbers being designated by 52. Each one of the free choice spaces 54, the first player may then choose to open any one of the closure slides 36. However, if the pointer 56 comes to rest upon one of the indicia 52, the closure slide 36 corresponding to such indicia 52 is opened by the first player, after which the first player may then again attempt to identify the word defined by the definition 22. If the player cannot identify the word, the next player takes a turn by first attempting to identify the word with the one letter exposed by the first player. If such next player cannot identify the word with only the one letter exposed, the spinner may again be rotated to determine the next slide 36 to be opened, and the game progresses in the same manner. It will thus be recby taking a turn and attempting to identify the word with whatever letters are exposed. However, no player may attempt to identify a word out of turn. The play continues until the word is accurately identified, and such player must spell or pronounce the word correctly. The answer may be checked by having the player attempting to identify the word by opening the answer slide 42 without exposing such answer 32 to the other players. If the player is correct, the answer is shown to all of theother players, whereas if the player is incorrect, the slide 42 is closed again and that player remains out of the game until that word is identified by another player.

If the pointer 56 comes to rest upon one of the indicia 52 which has already been used, or is an indicia which is not to be used (e.g., the number 8 when the word sought is a 6-letter one), the player then uses the other, i.e., the second number in the same section. If such second number has already been used or is not to be used, the player is allowed to respin.

While any scoring method may be used, one suggested system is to allow a bonus of five points to any player identifying a word before any letters are revealed. In all other instances, a player correctly identifying a word is awarded a score of one point foreach letter of that word that remains covered at the time of identification. Any player incorrectly guessing the answer is penalized one point for each covered letter following the incorrect guess. A player may win by obtaining a total score of fifty points, or any other desired score around that figure. After each word is identified, all of the slides 36, .2 are again closed and the game sheet moved, i.e., pulled, out of the compartment 18 so as to align the next word definition 22 in the window opening 25, so that the game may be continued by proceeding in the same manner.

Any number of game sheets 20 may be used for a game until the predetermined score is attained by any one player. This game may also be played by a single player simply by keeping a record of plus and minus points resulting from correct and incorrect identification of the game words. .Points received by the single player or the number of covered letters in the correctly identified word may be entered in the plus column, to which may also .be added any bonus points. The number of uncovered than 60-minus points indicating a superior player.

It will be understood that the board may have a smaller or greater number of window openings 28, than the ten thereof shown in the drawing. a

It will now be appreciated that sincethe game completely self-contained, it may be conveniently played in any desired location, during travel or in the absence of any table, flat surface or the, like. In addition, any number of players may participate and the game will fairly "indicate the skill of each player. The game word sheets 20 may be supplied invarious degrees of difiiculty, various topics, and may be repeatedly used by the same or 4 different players, thus enabling all players to choose the topics, degrees of difliculty and order of play.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A word game comprising, in combination a substantially rigid playing board, said playing board including a main panel having a plurality of window openings extending .therethrough, a word game sheet having individual aligned columns of word letters and word definitions, said playing board slidably receiving said game sheet therebeneat'n with said columns of word lettersand word definitions visible through said window openings of said main panel, individual closures for each of said Word letter window openings, said closures being individually movable between an initial closed position masking the associated word letter and an adjusted open position revealing said word letter, means determining the sequence of opening all of said closures, and each one of openings of said main panel, and wherein said means determining the sequence of opening of all of said closures comprises a spinner rotatably carried upon said main panel, and a plurality of circumferenti'ally spaced apart numerals upon said main panel in the path of rotation of said spinner, each one of said numerals corresponding to one of said window openings insaid main panel.

2. A word game as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an answer column on said word game sheet, and

, an answer window opening in said main panel in the path of longitudinal movement of said answer column, and a closure carried by said main panel selectively movable between a normally closed position masking said answer column and an open position revealing said answer column independently of said word letter window openings.

3; A word game as set forth in claim 2, wherein said word definitions and word letters and said answer columns are in longitudinally and laterally aligned relationship, and all of said window openings of said main panel are in laterally aligned relationship.

4. A word game as set forth in claim 3 wherein said word game sheet is longer than'the length of said oompartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,193,745 Sterne Mar. 12, 1940 2,221,303 Shipley Nov. 12, 1940 2,384,539 Eppley Sept. 11, 1945 r 2,470,310 Heyman May 17, 1949 2,681,804 Stover June 22, 1954 2,749,128 Arnold June 5, 1956 

1. A WORD GAME COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PLAYING BOARD, SAID PLAYING BOARD INCLUDING A MAIN PANEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF WINDOW OPENINGS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A WORD GAME SHEET HAVING INDIVIDUAL ALIGNED COLUMNS OF WORD LETTERS AND WORD DEFINITIONS, SAID PLAYING BOARD SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID GAME SHEET THEREBENEATH WITH SAID COLUMNS OF WORD LETTERS AND WORD DEFINITIONS VISIBLE THROUGH SAID WINDOW OPENINGS OF SAID MAIN PANEL, INDIVIDUAL CLOSURES FOR EACH OF SAID WORD LETTER WINDOW OPENINGS, SAID CLOSURES BEING INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE BETWEEN AN INITIAL CLOSED POSITION MASKING THE ASSOCIATED WORD LETTER AND AN ADJUSTED OPEN POSITION REVEALING SAID WORD LETTER, MEANS DETERMINING THE SEQUENCE OF OPENING ALL OF SAID CLOSURES, AND EACH ONE OF SAID CLOSURES COMPRISING A SLIDE SLIDABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID MAIN PANEL FOR SELECTIVE LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CLOSED POSITION AND SAID ADJUSTED OPEN POSITION AND WHEREIN SAID PLAYING BOARD FURTHER COMPRISES A BASE PANEL, AND A FRAME SUPPORTING SAID MAIN AND BASE PANELS IN SPACED APART PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID WORD GAME SHEET THEREBETWEEN FOR SELECTIVE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT TO POSITION A SELECTED ONE OF SAID WORD DEFINITIONS AND WORD LETTERS WITHIN SAID WINDOW OPENINGS OF SAID MAIN PANEL, AND WHEREIN SAID MEANS DETERMINING THE SEQUENCE OF OPENING OF ALL OF SAID CLOSURES COMPRISES A SPINNER ROTATABLY CARRIED UPON SAID MAIN PANEL, AND A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED APART NUMERALS UPON SAID MAIN PANEL IN THE PATH OF ROTATION OF SAID SPINNER, EACH ONE OF SAID NUMERALS CORRESPONDING TO ONE OF SAID WINDOW OPENINGS IN SAID MAIN PANEL. 